New Zealand Fur Seal

Identification

The New Zealand fur seal is a robust marine mammal with distinctive features that set it apart from true seals. Males are substantially larger than females, averaging around 126 kg and reaching up to 2 metres in length, while females typically weigh 30–50 kg and measure up to 1.5 metres. Like all fur seals, they possess external ears and hind flippers that rotate forward—visible characteristics that immediately distinguish them from true seals. Their most striking feature is a pointed nose adorned with long, pale whiskers. Their coat displays a grey-brown coloration on the back with a lighter belly, and some individuals have white-tipped longer hairs that create a silvery sheen.

Newborn pups are remarkably small, weighing just 3.3–3.9 kg and measuring 40–55 cm in length. All fur seals are covered by two layers of fur, providing insulation in cold southern waters. Historically, seals found on remote subantarctic islands such as Antipodes Islands and Macquarie Island were claimed to represent a distinct subspecies with thicker fur, though their genetic distinctiveness remains unclear.

Range & Habitat

This species inhabits the coastal waters and offshore islands of southern regions across the Tasman Sea. In Australia, they are found from the south-western corner of Western Australia to just east of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, including southern Tasmania and the subantarctic Macquarie Island. Small populations are expanding in Bass Strait and along the coasts of Victoria and New South Wales as far as the mid-north coast. Before human arrival in New Zealand, these seals bred around the entire mainland and its subantarctic islands. Today, established and expanding colonies are found around the entire South Island, Stewart Island, and all New Zealand subantarctic islands, with newly established breeding colonies now appearing on the North Island.

Behaviour & Diet

New Zealand fur seals are among the ocean's most accomplished divers. Females can dive for approximately 9 minutes to depths around 312 metres, with even greater capabilities in autumn and winter. Males are even more impressive, capable of diving for about 15 minutes to depths near 380 metres—deeper and longer than any other fur seal species. However, typical dives last only 1–2 minutes. These seals exhibit remarkable adaptability: they dive deeper during the day when prey migrates to greater depths, and shallower at night when prey returns to shallower waters. When porpoising across the surface at speed, they briefly leap clear of the water. Lactating females modify their diving patterns to care for young, reducing dive duration to around 5 minutes. This sexual division of foraging grounds—with males working deeper continental shelf breaks and females utilising shallower continental shelves—minimises competition between sexes for food resources.

Communication involves distinct vocalizations: males produce barks or whimpers ranging from guttural threats to submissive calls, while females growl and emit high-pitched pup-attraction wails that carry over distance. Pups begin diving from 6–10 months of age, learning to forage while still nursing until weaning at 8–11 months. Young seals initially consume cephalopods before transitioning to fish, reflecting both prey availability and developing hunting skills.

Best Time & Places to See It

New Zealand fur seals are most reliably encountered around the established colonies of the South Island, Stewart Island, and the New Zealand subantarctic islands. In Australia, southern coastal regions and offshore islands offer viewing opportunities. The species is present year-round, though breeding seasons provide opportunities to observe territorial behaviour and pup interactions. The expanding populations on the North Island of New Zealand and along the coasts of Victoria and New South Wales represent emerging viewing destinations for those seeking to witness range recovery.

Photography Tips

Photograph these seals during breeding season to capture dramatic territorial displays, where males perform full neck displays as non-combative dominance assessments. The contrast between the grey-brown upper fur and lighter belly offers good compositional opportunities. Capture their distinctive pointed nose and pale whiskers for compelling close-up portraits. Their porpoising behaviour at the water's surface presents dynamic action shots—be positioned to catch them leaping clear of the water when travelling at speed. Pups offer particularly photogenic subjects, especially during the vulnerable weaning period when they begin diving independently. The silver-tipped appearance of some individuals is enhanced by backlighting and can create striking images against darker water backgrounds.